Brooks in deal with retail giant

Country music star Garth Brooks has signed a deal with US retail giant Wal-Mart for the exclusive sale of his back catalogue and any future hits.

In the first deal of its kind, the supermarket chain will be the only place where Brooks' music will be available for purchase.

Brooks - one of the best-selling US solo artists - retired from public performing in 2000.

He vowed to return to recording once his daughter had turned 18.

Neither party in the deal has released any specific details yet, but a box-set of Brooks' music is expected to be the first exclusive at the US chain in the autumn.

Brief appearances

The deal was made possible after the termination of a licensing agreement between Brooks and his former record company, Capitol Nashville in June.

He performed at a meeting of Wal-Mart's shareholders in June, which was said to be the first indication of a tie-in between the singer and the retail company.

The singer-songwriter has retained control over the original copies of his music.

Brooks' last album, Scarecrow, which was released in 2001, has sold almost three million copies.

Since retiring from public performing, he has only made brief appearances at a handful of charity concerts.

He now lists his occupations and cooking and doing the laundry, after leaving the music business to devote more time to fatherhood.